118 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



The grasses whose natural history has been stated in the pre- 

 ceding pages, might be separated into four or five distinct 

 groups, which would facilitate the study of them ; for it must 

 have been observed that many of them possess marked peculiari- 

 ties of growth. 



I. We find first the bush or jungle grasses, or such as are 

 not inclined to grow with other species, and form a close, 

 matted turf or sward. Of these we have as examples the 



Tufted Hair Grass, {aira ccespitosa.^ 



Meadow Oat Grass, (avena pratensis.) 



Tall Fescue Grass, Qfestuca elatior.') 

 A few others, if sown alone, will assume somewhat the same 

 form, in tufts or cushions, as 



Sheep's Fescue, (^festuca ovina.') 



Hard Fescue, (^festuca duriuscula.') 



Orchard Grass, (^daclylis ^lomerata.') 

 This peculiarity in the growth of the last three gi'asses is 

 prevented by close pasturing, rolling and proper cultivation. 

 These operations improve upon nature, since if left to them- 

 selves they would far more certainly assume the jangle growth, 

 such as is often seen on poor, thin pasture soils, especially in 

 the south-eastern parts of the State, where on the sandy soils 

 this mode of growth is every where observable — a close, fine, 

 matted sward being attained only by careful cultivation. 



II. The aquatic or water grasses form another distinct group, 

 and among these are the 



Reed Canary Grass, (^phalaris arundinacea,') 

 Common Reed Grass, (arundo phragmites.) 

 "Water Spear Grass, (^poa aquatica.') 

 Common Manna Grass, (^poa fluitans.') 

 Rice Grass, (^Leersia oryzoides.^ 

 Floating Foxtail, (^alopecurus geniculatus.') 

 Wild Rice, (zizania aquatica.^ 

 These grasses grow mostly in water and are not cultivated 

 with us as agricultural grasses with the exception, perhaps, of 



